Bulls Welcome Back Magic

But They Won't Pull Punches

February 03, 1996|By Sam Smith, Tribune Pro Basketball Writer.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Michael Jordan was one of the first few people Magic Johnson told on that day in early November 1991 that Johnson was leaving the NBA because he had contracted the virus that causes AIDS.

Jordan had taken Johnson's call on his car phone, and Jordan remembers having to pull off to the side of the road to compose himself.

But Friday night, much to Jordan's delight and disbelief, it was Johnson who was serving as the roadblock as the Bulls sought to win their 18th straight game and add to their record start.

"Thinking back to '91, I never thought it would happen again," admitted Jordan, who made his own heralded comeback last March. "It's funny how things happen. I never thought I'd be back, and I'm pretty sure he never thought he'd be back. But our love for the game drew us back. So here we are again."

And the spectacle was big even for blase Hollywood, where seeing a film idol among the aisles in the supermarket is not uncommon.

But one doesn't see Magic and MJ together at their performing best often, and they weren't acting when they hit the court Friday, Johnson trying to measure himself in his return and Jordan determined not to allow Johnson to derail the Bulls' express.

"He made a point of coming back to play against us," noted Jordan. "From a competitive standpoint or enthusiasm or whatever, we don't know. But we don't want him to spoil our parade. It's a challenge with him pointing to our game as a standard of measurement."

A challenge the Bulls weren't about to take lightly.

"Magic is a guy who really competes," said Scottie Pippen. "You like beating up on somebody like that."

No, the Bulls weren't planning going into the game to take it easy on Johnson and the Lakers.

But they had no doubts about what he would bring to the team in the NBA.

"He'll bring light and focus back to the NBA," Jordan said. "And that's good for the NBA. And his skills as a basketball player are far greater than just the physical aspect.

"Mentally, he knows so much about the game that can even things out as far as the physical," Jordan said. "He'll show the young guys there's more to the game than the physical aspect. He'll illustrate that."

But Jordan stopped short of saying he expects to see Johnson again in the NBA Finals.

"As far as being (championship) contenders," noted Jordan, "it's more than just Magic Johnson. It takes a lot of maturing of their young players to accept a certain role and understand what is at stake, the pressure you have to deal with. Magic can inform them of that, but he can't play for them.

"As I found out when I came back," Jordan said. "You cannot be contenders until you put the work in on the basketball court. He'll help because his all-around skills create a lot of double-team situations where he kicks the ball to people and gives them opportunities to score."

But Jordan said Johnson's return means more than the competition.

"A lot can be said about what our game is," said Jordan, "and what our love for the game is and how we still want to compete in this game. Something has to go on the basketball court, and we feel we can contend with the great prospects they have today."

And the furor is not about to subside, said Jordan, who should know.

"Like when I came back, you start to visit cities you haven't been to in a few years, places they have not seen you, so as he does that the enthusiasm will continue right through the playoffs," Jordan predicted.